Photographic apparatus

Abstract: In known photographic apparatus, processing is achieved by passing the material to be processed from one processing stage to the next in a predetermined sequence. This necessitates that the processing stages are sequentially arranged in the apparatus. However, if the material being processed requires more than one identical processing step, for example, two or more wash processes, the processing stages need to be duplicated. Described herein is apparatus in which the processing stages need not be duplicated and in which the stages may be arranged accordingly. The apparatus comprises a rotating drum (110) on which the material (16) to be processed is mounted, and a multi-tank container (112) housing a plurality of compartments (120, 122, 124, 126, 128), each compartment containing one of the desired processing solutions (130, 132, 134, 136, 138). Application rollers (140, 142, 144, 146, 148) are associated with respective ones of the compartments (120, 122, 124, 126, 128) for transferring the processing solutions contained therein on to the material (16) being processed. Each application roller (140, 142, 144, 146, 148) moves from a first position where no contact is made with the rotating drum to a second position where contact is made with the rotating drum (110) to effect the transfer of processing solution. Additionally, an exposing device (116) may be provided for forming an image on the material (16) to be processed prior to processing.

Description: Field of the Invention The present invention relates to photographic apparatus and is more particularly, although not exclusively, concerned with photographic processing apparatus having low throughputs. Background of the Invention In most known photographic processing apparatus, photographic material is passed through a series of baths containing processing solutions appropriate to that particular material. The material is driven sequentially through the baths by roller pairs. In other processing apparatus, a plurality of rollers is used to pick up processing solutions from trays and transfer the solutions on to the material as it is passed across the top of the rollers. In both cases, the material is free and it is effectively passed from solution to solution. For example, in a simple photographic process, developer, fixer and wash solutions have to be arranged in order so that the material can pass from one processing stage to the next in one pass. EP-A-0 226 213, for example, discloses a wet type color electrophotographic copying machine, in which three developing devices are mounted on a movable carriage. Each device has a lifting means associated therewith, which raises it towards a rotating drum. When in the raised position, an associated feed pump is arranged to spray the developer on to photosensitive material on the drum. To complete the operation, (a) the carriage has to be moved linearly to bring the respective developing device into position below the drum, (b) the device has to be lifted up towards the drum, (c) the pump has to be operated to transfer the developer, (d) the device has to be lowered, and (e) these four steps have to be repeated for the other two developing devices. US 5 064 738 discloses process and apparatus for liquid development of a latent electrostatic image, in which a paper sheet on a platen is continuously moved over successive processing stages, which involve a skiving roller. At the processing stations where material is to be transferred to the paper, this is done by fountain-type applicators. Problem to be solved by the Invention However, it is difficult to reduce the size and complexity of the processing apparatus when several identical processing stages are required. Summary of the Invention In accordance with the present invention, there is provided photographic apparatus including at least a processing stage which comprises:- a rotatably-driven drum on which material (16) to be processed is mounted; a plurality of reservoirs each containing a processing solution; and applicator means for transferring processing solution from the plurality of reservoirs to the material being processed; characterized in that the applicator means comprises a plurality of linearly spaced-apart application rollers, each application roller being associated with a respective one of the reservoirs; and in that transfer of processing solution from the application rollers to material mounted on the rotating drum is effected by a linear movement of the rollers so as to bring respective ones thereof into contacting driven relationship with the drum. The plurality of reservoirs is arranged side by side in an elongate tray which is mounted for reciprocating motion relative to the rotating drum. In this arrangement, the application rollers lie in a plane which extends parallel to the direction of reciprocating motion, and each roller moves from the first position to the second position in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the plane in which they lie. Additionally, an exposure device may be included for exposing an image on the material prior to application of the processing solutions. Advantageous Effect of the Invention The apparatus of the present invention has the advantage that the processing solutions can be applied in a particularly simple manner to the material to be processed. Furthermore, an image station can be provided in which an image is applied to material which is subsequently processed to produce a copy of the image. Brief Description of the Drawings For a better understanding of the present invention, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of processing apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 illustrating the material-solution interface; and Figure 3 is a sketch of a sensitometric curve obtained when processing material using apparatus according to the present invention. Detailed Description of the Invention The present invention will be described in relation to the processing of photographic paper, but any other photographic material can be processed in the same manner. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to use with photographic materials and is applicable to any process where chemically sensitive material needs to be treated. Referring initially to Figure 1, a drum processor arrangement 1 is shown. The arrangement 1 comprises a processing drum 10 and a tray assembly 12. The tray assembly 12 comprises a plurality of processing solution trays 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, each containing processing solution 30, 32, 34, 36, 38 and having an applicator roller 40, 42, 44, 46, 48 associated therewith. The tray assembly 12 is arranged for reciprocating movement relative to the processing drum 10 as indicated by arrows 14. In the arrangement shown in Figure 1, the processing solutions are as follows:- solution 20 is developer; solution 22 is bleach/fix; and solutions 24, 26, 28 are stabilizers Material to be processed, indicated by numeral 16, is attached to the drum 10, by means not shown, for rotation therewith in the direction indicated by arrow 18. As the tray assembly 12 is reciprocated in the directions shown by arrow 14, each applicator roller 40, 42, 44, 46, 48 is brought into contact with the material 16 to apply the appropriate processing solution thereto. As each roller 40, 42, 44, 46, 48 comes into contact with the drum 10, it is caused to rotate due to drive being transferred from the drum 10. Then as the roller rotates, it picks up processing solution in its associated tray and transfers it on to the surface of the material being processed. This is shown in more detail in Figure 2. In Figure 2, application roller 44 is shown in contact with the drum 10. As the drum 10 rotates in the direction of arrow 18, roller 44 is caused to rotate in the direction indicated by arrow 54 and picks up solution 34 from the tray 24 and then transfers the solution on to the surface of the paper 16 and the drum 10. As roller 44 is arranged to provide a nip with the surface of drum 10, only solution which has been absorbed by the paper 16 is carried around as the drum rotates. Any solution not absorbed by the paper is forced off the surface of the drum. This forms a region 50 of high agitation as shown. As the drum 10 rotates, the paper passes through region 50 before it passes through the nip. This acts to refresh the solution applied to the paper. Although each compartment 20, 22, 24, 26, 28 of the tray assembly 12 is arranged in so that each processing stage follows in order, the order can be rearranged and each processing solution accessed by reciprocating the tray 12 in the direction of arrow 14 as required. Figure 3 illustrates a typical sensitometric curve which was obtained using this apparatus. Ektacolor 2000 paper was processed at room temperature in RA4 chemistry. The development time was 6min with 3min of fixing and stabilizing. An exposing device 116 is included in the drum processor arrangement shown in Figure 1. This enables the paper to be exposed and processed in a single unit. The exposing device 116 is mounted to travel across the surface of the drum 10 in accurate alignment with the drum axle (not shown). In operation, the paper 16 is attached to the surface of the drum 10. The paper is then exposed by the exposing device 116 travelling across the surface of the drum 10. Once the paper has been exposed, application rollers 40,42,44,46 and 48 are brought into contact successively with the drum 10 and the paper 16 so that developer solution 20, bleach/fix solution 22 and stabilizing solutions 24, 26 and 28 are applied as required until processing is completed. The exposed and processed paper is then removed from the surface of the drum 10. Arrangements in accordance with the present invention have the following advantages:- a) The paper being processed is held firmly agains the surface of the drum. b) Tracking problems associated with paper movement through the processing apparatus are eliminated. c) The exposing device may be either optical or digital. d) By having all the processing stages in a single unit, the overal processing machine size is substantially reduced. Throughput of material being processed is also substantially improved as there is no requirement for cross-over time. e) The drum is rotated at high speeds and this in conjunction with the offset application roller arrangement ensures good agitation of the processing solutions at the surface being processed. f) There is no requirement for transport rollers, chains, gears etc to effect transportation of the paper through the various processing stages. The number of machine parts is minimized. g) The present invention is applicable for use in unreplenished batch mode chemistry as there is minimal cross-contamination. It may be desirable to leave a thin layer of processing solution on the surface of the paper being processed. In this case, movement of the application rollers would be adjusted so that a gap is maintained between the application rollers and the drum. It may be also be desirable to add thickeners to the processing solutions to prevent drainage when thicker laydowns of solutions are utilized. Although three wash or stabilizer processes have been described above, it is envisaged that a single wash process may be provided in which a single compartment is repeatedly drained and refilled so that three wash processes can still be effected using that single compartment. Additional rollers may be incorporated in each compartment for the removal of excess solution from the surface of the paper. Wiper blades could also be used to achieve this removal.

Claims: Photographic apparatus (1) including at least a processing stage which comprises:- a rotatably-driven drum (10) on which material (16) to be processed is mounted; a plurality of reservoirs (12, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28) each containing a processing solution (30, 32, 34, 36, 38); and applicator means (40, 42, 44, 46, 48) for transferring processing solution (30, 32, 34, 36, 38) from the plurality of reservoirs (12, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28) to the material (16) being processed; characterized in that the applicator means comprises a plurality of linearly spaced-apart application rollers (40, 42, 44, 46, 48), each application roller (40, 42, 44, 46, 48) being associated with a respective one of the reservoirs (12, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28); and in that transfer of processing solution (30, 32, 34, 36, 38) from the application rollers (40, 42, 44, 46, 48) to material (16) mounted on the rotating drum (10) is effected by a linear movement of the rollers (40, 42, 44, 46, 48) so as to bring respective ones thereof into contacting driven relationship with the drum (10). Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of reservoirs (20, 22, 24, 26, 28) is arranged side by side in an elongate tray (12) which is mounted for reciprocating motion relative to the rotating drum (10). Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the application rollers (20, 22, 24, 26, 28) lie in a plane which extends parallel to the direction of reciprocating motion. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each application roller (20, 22, 24, 26, 28) moves from the first position to the second position in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the plane. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, further including an exposure device (116) for exposing an image on the material (16) prior to application of the processing solutions (30, 32, 34, 36, 38).

Inventors: EARLE ANTHONY, EARLE, ANTHONY, EARLE, ANTHONY, C/O KODAK LIMITED
Applicants: EASTMAN KODAK CO, KODAK LTD, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY, KODAK LIMITED
Application year: 1994
Main classification: G03D13
IPC codes: G03G15, G03D13, G03D5, G03D3